Reaping-machine



4,- Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G H HOWE REAPING MACHINE.

vNo. 387,684. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

' INVENTEIR (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheen 3.

G. H. I-IOWB.

'REAPING MACHINE. f No. 387,684. lantentedA Aug. 14, 1888.

lull if l i0 (Nuo Model.) y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. H. HOWE. REAPING MACHINE.

No. 887,884. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

Fr i/ y f THEWALTER.

'unf

lgenauerem-N'foi-ming tarief `Letters. PatentNogsaaesseated August 14,1888.l fr y, 1 Application mm1 l.Dammusi meer.t sanar 251,021. No model.) misma in England April en, issn, Nja's I TofwZZ/whom it 'mayconeerm i 'Be it known' thatv I, I'GaioRcfE HUToHINs HOWE,a citizeii'of the United States, residing at Hoosiek Falls, county 'of Rensselaer, and

5l Statelof New York, have invented'c'ertain new and 'useful 'Improvements in Reaping- Machines, (for which'Let'ters Patent No. 5,838 of 18S6have been granted in' Great Britain on the 29th`day of April, 1886;) and I do hereby 1o declare that the following is a full,'clear, and

exact Jdeseri ptiou thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspeciiication; 4

My invent-ionl relates`-tofthat class of maehines known as swe'plrake reapers, in

.Y which a series of rake'ssweepthe accumulated- 4grainlromv the platform, and more particu-'1 larly to the controlling mechanism by which the said rakes are caused to act either as beat- 2o erste lay the grain. upon the platform or as both beaters 'and 'rakesto sweep the grain therefrom, as will beA morejfully hereinafter described, and poii'itedioutv in' `thel claims. I

leferrring to the accompanying drawings,

.in which similar letters of' reference Aindicate like parts, andv in which only so much of'a sweep-rake reaper is shown as is necessary to illustrate myinvention y Figure l is a perspective view of my auto- 5'0 matic controlling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe cam-track, its switch and latch. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fdrked stop-plate which determines the point on vthe spiral to which the lever shall fall. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the lever which'automatically controls the action of therakes.-l Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a wing 'and collar attached to the switch, through which the switch is operated by the leverI shown in Fig.` 4. Fig. 5" is 4o 4arear elevation of the wing shown in Fig. 5. y Fig. 6 is an elevation of lmy invention.y Fig.

' '7 is 'a perspective view of the lever for setting therakes to Vany desired jorder of operation. Fig. Sis av detached'viewin perspective of the leverand its attachments by which the driver controls the rak'es. Fig. 9 kis aperspectivc view ofthe switch auditsoperatingwing andv PATENT; ,'QFFIfCE.

cunts HQwn`, ;forHoosicirrlittsynnw roert, `As`s1cnoaTo l vooD MO'W'ING ANDREAPING MACHINE COMPANY, "or

Fig.l 11 is aperspective Vof the spiral audits 5o integral'v cam and pinion; Fig. 12, a vertical section-'through Fig. 11. Fig. 13 isv a per- Y speetive view of a collar attached to the setting-lever. Fig. 14 is a Vertical crosfsfsection through' line Z Z, Fig 9.' Motion is imparted from the driving-wheel ('notshown in the drawings) in any well-known wayto the bevelpinion G', which drives .the pinion G, secured by a pin passingthrough. a hole in itsfhub to an inclined shaft supported 6o in suitable bearings in the frame K. VOn the' upper end of this shaft is fastened the bevel- .pinion d,which meshes intoand drives the large inverted-crownlshaped lbevel `gearwheel c, on the upper surface of which are'65 yhinged the arms A2 A3 A4 A5, towhich are bolted the-rakes or beaters. The vnumber of teeth in the bevel-wheel cmust always, be

a multiple of the number of teethinl the pinion d, and this multiple must correspond 7o with the number of rakes; and in the conf y struction shown, as there are four rakes.

'Sotherefare'four times as many teeth'in the bevetwheel c as there are in..pinion d. The rakesare fastened to the arms AAi, Snc., by 75,

bolts passing through holes hi at their lowerV and slots f at their upperends. These slotsl permit the proper adjustment of the rakes ,or beaters with referencevto the platform. tThe inverted bevel gear-wheel c is provided with 8o along hub, and is supported upon a shaft or studfK, on which it turns loosely. This shaft or stud is fast in the forward part of the framed K. The 'shaft K passes down throughy the frame K, and the nut It', screwed on its lowery 85 end, prevents it frommoving upwardly. The nut'lc, which -is screwed onto thel upper yend of the shaft K, holds thev disk e in place on shaft 'K'. (See Fig.`10.) 4 Theinverted bevel-wheel c is provided with 9o a pair of ears for each rake, betweenywhich ears the arms A2 A3, 8tc.`,ar`el hiuged'by tthe bolts m,passing through holesv in the ears and in the lower ends of the arms AAS, Ste. tLy this arrangement the rakes are capable of re-V ceiving an up-anddown movemcntwhilepassing overl the platform on whichthe grain falls.

, Below the wheel c, which lsupports the rakes,

is a cam-shaped track, H, supported upon the 4cated at their lower ends.

luded to, which connects the armsto the gearfwheel c, and the other limb is furnished with a roller, a, which-turns loosely on a vstud fastened in the arm. When the bevel gear-wheel c revolves, it carries the rake-arms with it, and the rollers a follow the contour o f the camtrack H.V 'Ihe cam-t`rack H is inclined, and the part thereof adjacent, to the platform is suihciently lower than its other portion to permit the rakes to sweep the platform, which they would always do werenot some way provided to guide the rollers a away from this portion ol' this cam-track H. The portion of the cam-track adjacent to the platform is provided with an outer wall, u, which curves outwardly at the opening n,and is provided with the switch D, the vertical pin of which passes through the cam-trackV and has secured thereto at its lower end a cup-shaped collar, D', provided with the wingD, Figs. 1,'5, 6, 9, 10,

and 14. A spiral spring, D,is coiled around the verticalpin of the switch, and its -upper end is fastened tothe cam-track or to some iixcd portion ofthe machine andl the lower end is fastened in the notch o in the periphery ofthe collar. The tendency of the spring is to force the free end of the switch D* against the inner Vwall of the cam-track H, as herein-A after explained, and shown in Fig. 1, the vertical pin of the switch .turning freely in its bearings in the cam-track. The outer wall,

a, is also provided with the pivoted latch b,

which normally rests with its free end upon the cam-track H, but is capable of being swung outwardly on its pivot. l

Itis evident that when'the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the roller secured to the rakewillbe guided froni'the inner Wall of thecam-track H over the switch D",.Wall n, and latch b, and that the rake will be raised above the platform. When, however, the

switch D* is moved against the wall n or in thev opening n', the roller will follow the 'contour of the inner wall of the cam-track H and will swing the latch b outwardly andthe rake will sweep the platform. The succeeding roller,-

'which rides .over the switch "D5 and wall n, will as it advances gradually move the latch b back to the position shown inFig. 1.

The bevel-pinion G on the lower end of the inclined shaft, through which motion is imparted to the rakes, is made integral with a cone forming its hub, on which a spiral, F, is cast, extending from the bottom to the top, where it is extended into the ycam M. A crooked lever, C, is provided with two ears, C C, with holes which take over the rod D, Figs. 1, 6, and 10, by which arrangement the lever can slide up and down, as well as turn upon the rod as a pivot. The end E of the lever. O rests Vuponthe face f of the spiral F,

and it is plain that if the spiral be revolved'A ver `arm, C", bears against the face of the wing D,

asma-1 and the end E be' also held against the facef the lever C will ride up on the spiral'onto the cam Mon the apex of the spiral. As the le- G is raised by the spiral F, its upper bent which is made wedge-shaped to compensate for vvolution of the spiral upon which thev end E rests, so that the end. Eof the lever C'maybe held upon Athe spiral. The collar on which the wing D 'is formed .is securedo the vertical pin ofthe switch D by a pin, D, passing through the transverse slot of in the collar, so that the spring D, besides holding the switch D* against the inn'erwall'of the cam-track H,

.also hasa tendency -to keep the-wing Dv against the arm O2 of the lever C, the slot o', by which the collar of the wing D is fastened to the vertical pin of the switch D, permitting the wing I)2 a limited rotary movement independent ofthe switch. f

the. constantly-decreasing diameter of the con- "Ais the index-plate, mounted on'the upper t edge of the cam -track and provided with the notches 1 5 4 3 2 D, to receive the, bent liever A, which is so formed as to spring intol the notches and-remain there, except when moved' bythe operator. wardly from the index-platc-A and horizontally through the frame, in which it has abearing. Itis provided on its inner end with.

the collar. P, pinned fast thereto. vThe forkedA plate Bis-mounted loosely-.on the lever A.

and the'adjacent faces ofthe collar P and The lever A' passes downrou forked plate B are provided with the projections I?" P. In the hole B1 of the plate B is hooked a rod, B', the other end of whichl is hooked into an-arm, B, of therod B, which y is journaledin suitable bearings, B', on the' pole of the machine, and has a second crankarm, B, in suitable position for the driver to operate it with his foot, the rods BV and B forming leverage-connections to the forked V plate B, within reach ofthe driver. A coiled spring, B, is slipped over the rod B, and its xcg force is applied to push the plate B backv ward, so that the projection P will abut against the'projection I. When the end has been raised by the spiral F onto the cam M and when-it leaves the cam M, it is evident thatthe .lever C will drop upon the arm B of the plate B, whichy forms a stop therefor and will rest upon it, and the lower end, E, will rest upon one of the convolutions of the spiral; also, that the convolution of the .spiral upon which it shall rest will be determined by the position of the projection P on collar I?, against which the projection P is forced by the spring B, and that this position of the projection P1 is determined by the rocking of the lever A.l The upper arm of the lever C is made with a thin flange, C, 'on its under side, which,when the plate B is moved forwardly by the driver pressing on the crankarm B, rests iu the notch B, and when in this position the lower end of the lever C will be held clear of the cam M ofthe spiral.'

is der' placed uponvhe top' of; the 'man' is placed in the notch marked 4,

every rake will act as a rake.

asf/,684 3,1

"which supports thewheelfd'andfthe arms sup, vporting the rakesbear against vthe periphery y passed by the-.platl form andare prevented from being throw-n too loff the disk-after they ihave far'vbackwardly;

The 'operationv of my inventiouis as follows:

When the leverA is'placed in the notch marked of the plate y 5 on theindezr-plate,the-arm B will take suchl a position that the-lever C when dropped will rest on. the lowest convolution of the'spirah'and as the spiral 4revolves the lever C'will be raised by the spiral and will slide upward on the rod D, and the upper end of the lever will movel along the wedgeshaped wing 13". W'hen thelower end comes iii-contact with the cam M, the lever will be swung on the rod D 'as a hinge, and, bearing against the wing D2, will close the switch D, or move it against the outer wall, n, and the roller 'a will follow the contour of the inner wall of the cam-track H and sweep the grain from the platform; but a sufficient time has been consumed in raising the lever from the lowest convolution of the spiral to the cam M, so that thefourrakes have passed over the switch D*, and consequently acted as beaters only, the succeeding rake raking the grain from the platform. After the cam M has closed theswitch'D through lever C andwing D`2,the switch being then held closed by the roller passing behind it, the lever C will fall by gravity againto the lowest convolution of the spiral, and after the roller on the rake-arm has passed the switch D* the spring D3- will throw the free end in against the inner wall of the cam-track H, and the succeeding rake will act as a beater only. lThis operation will be continued as long as the lever A is left in thenotch 5. When it every fourth rake will rake; in that, marked 3,'every third, and in that marked 2, every other. When lit is placed in the notch markedl D, the leverr C will rest in the notch B8 and will beheld clear of the spiral, but not a sufficient distance therefrom, so that it will close the switch, and all the rakes will act as heaters. When the lever is placed in the notch marked 1, and after the lever C has been raised by the revolution of the spiral onto the cam at its apex, the spring B5 will force the ar1n.B back-ward, so that the arm'C will rest upon the end of the arm 1?lo and the lever C will bey held continuously against the cam at the apex of the spiral, and -The driver in his seat can at any time change the action of the rakes from rakes to beaters by putting his foot upon the crank-arm B4, thereby overcomv ing the action of the spring Bi and moving'the plate B forward, so that the arm C2 of the le-l ver G,which is free to slide on its pivot in the frame, will rest in the notch'BB and the-lever (Q will be held away from the spiral. It is also evident that the arrangement for controlling the rakes independently of the lever A necessitates having the plate B loosely mounted on the lever A, for otherwise it might be secured' thereto, and the collar P and projections Pand p from'rakes-tov beaters-maybe had? t. v 4 k Havingthus ful'lydescrihed' my invention',

. index-plate,

lI, `whichtperinit`- the plate IB to. be movedfforwardlyv bythe footof sthegidriver, v-done away with.: It is falso!civ-identthatcby-providing more rakes and-alongen conical-hub agreater variety of changes 1in the'action-ofMt-he-rakcs what` I claim-,"- and desire'to-secure by Letters Patent, is;'-l f sweep-rakereapers, the-combination, with a cone formed with a spiral on its by the revolution thereof, and a switch and a wing attached thereto, against which the lever is raised to operate the switch, substantially as and for the purpose described. A

2. The combination, with the cone formed with a spiral on itssurface, of a sliding and swinging lever resting upon the spiral l and adapted to be raised by the revolution thereof, the spring-switch provided with a projecting wing against which the upper end of the lever bears, and a cam formed on the apex of the cone to swing the sliding lever after it has been vraised by the spiral thereon against the pro-- jecting wing of the switch to substantially as and-for the purpose specified.

3.The combination, with the cone formed with a spiral on its surface, ofthe slidingand swinging lever resting upon the spiral, a cam lat the apex ofthe spiral onto which the lever is raised by the revolution ofthe cone, the switch y surface, of the lsliding lever resting upon the spiral and raised 7s l. In a V'rakelcontrolling vniechausinfor .close the switch,

and its wing against which the lever is swung v to open the switch, and an adjustable stop to regulate the distance to which the lever drops after leaving the cam, the'purp'ose specified.

4. The combination, with the rakes, their cam-track and its switch,- oi' a spring adapted to keep the switch open to compel the rakes to act as beaters, a projecting wing attached to the switch, the conical spiral, the lever resting upon the spiral, the cam at the apex of the spiral, upon-which' the lever'is raised by the revolution of the spiral, and by which the lever is swung against the projecting wing of the switch to close the same against the action of the spring, tending to keep it open, substantially as and for the purpose specified.-

' 5. -The combination,- withv the kcone formed with a spiral on its face, on the spiral, the cam at ral, the switch and its of the-lever resting the apex of thespiwing against which the lever is swung by the cam to operate the switch, the forked plate upon which the lever falls'after leaving the cam, and leverage-connections within reach of the drivers foot attached to the forked plate,whereby the driver at will may move the lever resting on the spiral free and clear therefrom.

.6. rIhe combination, with `the cone formed with a spi ral on lits face, of a lever resting on the spiral, a cam at the apex of the cone, the

alever taking into theindex-plate, a. forked stop-plate loosely mounted on the insubstantially as and for dex-lever, and the abutting lprojections. on the .tially as and for the p 7. The combination, with the cone urpose specified.

formed with a spiral on its face, of a lever resting upon 5 the spiral, a cam at switch, and a wing the apex ofthe cone, a attached thereto,'aganst which the lever raised by the 'spiral onto the cam is swung to operate the switch, the indexl stop-plate loosely mounted abutting projections on the lever, the forked 1o on theindex-lever,

forked stop -plate an d indexlever, leverage;v

, scribed.

connections with the forked plate within reach' v of the driver, and a spring attached to such leverage-connectionswithin reach ofthe driver,

acting' to force the forked stopplate backwardly against theprojecton on the index-1ever, substantially as and for the purpose de- Y GEORGE H'UTCHINS HOWE. Witnesses:

R. BALL,-

C; A. CHENEY. 

